Vaporizer



Feb. 6, 1962 P. CONLIN ETAL 3,020,385

VAPORIZER Filed Dec. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Err H I5 l6 a a 43a fi 43435 l Q 23 i a l s 2201 I I 0 i I I i g i Q 45 a IR SWITCH ELECTRODESCONNECTEDTD TOTAL POSITION ARM 52 ARM 5| CURRENT OFF 0 o 0 A 2| 23 AMP.INVENTORS:

PETER CONLIN 2| 22 2. Z 2' 22m 23 WILLIAM L. SCHULZ D 2IAND 23 22 5 AMP.BY M g G 7 M ATT'YS Feb. 6, 1962 P. CONLIN ETAL VAPORIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Dec. 9, 1959 FIG. 2

FIG.3

INVENTORS: PETER CONLIN WILLIAM L. SCHULZ ATT 'Ys United States Patent3,020,385 VAPORIZER Peter Conlin and William L. Schulz, Reedsburg, Wis.,as-

signors to Hankscraft Company, Reedsburg, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Filed Dec. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 858,510 2 Claims. (Cl. 219-40)This invention relates to a vaporizer, and it is an object of theinvention toprovide improved apparatus of that character.

A vaporizer constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe invention is particularly adapted to the vaporizing of water,medically treated water, or other liquids for inhalation by personssuffering from respiratory ailments, although it will be apparent thatthe invention has other applications. Vaporization of the liquid isaccomplished through an electric current flowing between spaced apartelectrodes immersed in the liquid.

In prior art apparatus of this character, resort has been made tovarious devices for effecting asubstantial number of vaporization rates,among which are movable electrodes and means for regulating the electricvoltage applied to the electrodes. The apparatus necessary to thesetypes of control is relatively expensive. In some instances,it is shortlived and/or difficult to regulate.

In accordance with the present invention, the electrodes are arranged insuch a manner that as many as four rates of vaporization may be obtainedfrom as few as three electrodes, even though full line voltage isapplied to the selected electrodes in each instance, and the electrodesare in fixed relative positions. An important feature of the inventionis that one of three electrodes is arranged between two other electrodeswhereby the one electrode serves as a barrier to ion flow between theother two electrodes.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide animproved vaporizer having a novel arrangement of electrodes wherebyselective energization of a small number of fixed electrodes may effecta substantial number of vaporization rates.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved vaporizerhaving at least three electrodes, one of which is arranged between twoothers and serves as a barrier to ion flow between the two otherelectrodes.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improvedvaporizer having various of the characteristics referred to above whilebeing sturdy in construction, efi'i cient and reliable in operation, andeconomical to manufacture.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particu thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of a vaporizerconstructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial, elevational, cross-sectional view taken in thedirection of the arrows along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the vaporizer of FIGS 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of switch means incorporated inthe vaporizer of FIGS. 1-3; and,

'FIG. 5 is a chart of operating characteristics of one 'may be drawnfreely into the receptacle as the liquid therein is depleted. Ifpreferred, the cap 15 may be secured to the receptacle as by screwthreads or a bayonet mounting, in which case it is desirable that asuitable opening be provided for admission of air. The cap is preferablyof plastic material and of such form as to permit its molding as asingle, integral body.

I The cap 15 includes a central portion'17 to which are secured threesubstantially identical electrodes 21, 22 and 23 as by screws 24 andnuts 24', lugs 25 being arranged under the nuts 24 for facilitatingelectrical connection. All three electrodes are preferably formed ofsheet stainless steel and are of substantial width, for example /8", asmay be appreciated upon reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The electrodes arepreferably bent as illustrated in FIG. 1 to permit convenient securingof the upper ends thereof to the cap. A spacer 22a of insulatingmaterial such as plastic is preferably secured to the center electrode22 in any convenient manner and extends perpendicularly therefrom toengage the outer electrodes 21 and 23' to assure at least a minimumspacing between adjacent electrodes.

the space immediately above the upper ends of the electrodes 21, 22 and23. This housing includes walls 26, 27, 28 and 29 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3)which may be integral with each other and with the previously describedportions of the cap. A plate 30, preferably of metal, issecured tosuitable flanges on these walls as by screws 31 to complete the switchhousing.

A switch 32 is mounted on the plate 30 within the switch housing, acontrol knob 33 being arranged outside the housing. Leads 34, 35 and 36connect the switch'32 to the electrodes 21, 22 and 23 respectively.Electrical energy is supplied to the switch 32, and hence to theelectrodes 21, 22 and 23, through conventional leads 32a: extendingthrough an opening 26a in thewall 26 of the switchhousing. I I

The wall 29 in conjunction with a sloping'wall 37 and the walls 27 and28 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) form a recess or passage 38 which opens to theinterior ofthe receptacle. The wall 37 defines a slit 39 through whichvapor may escape from the receptacle by way of the re cess 38.Immediately in front of the wall 37 and the slit 39 is a dish 40 definedby a wall or lip 41 and the wall 37. This dish may, if desired, receivea medicant which may be slowly vaporized by the heated vapor emergingfrom the slit 30.

An inner housing 43 preferably surrounds the elec- I trodes 21, 22 and23 and is secured to the cap 15 by suitable screws 44. A small opening45 in the bottom of the inner housing 43 permits the liquid within theouter- The cap 15 includes a switch housing which encloses 3 be broughtto vaporizing temperature before vaporization is initiated.

The upper portion 43a of the inner housing 43 is of substantiallygreater diameter than the lower portion 43b, the smaller diameter of thelower portion prevailing over most of the vertical length of thehousing. This avoids interference with the upper portions of theelectrodes and permits a vapor passage (recess 38) alongside the switchhousing while providing a small enclosed volume.

A suitable form of the switch 32. is illustrated diagrammatically inFIG. 4. This switch includes contact arms 51 and 52 which are insulatedfrom each other and are rotatable about the same axis 53, the arms 51and 52 being maintained in fiXed angular relationship, all in a mannerwell known in the art. It will be seen that the vaporizer leads 32a makeconnection with these switch contact arms.

The arms 51 and 52 are movable in unison from the illustrated positiondesignated Off to successive positions designated A, B, C and D. A stoppin 54 prevents move ment of the contact arms clockwise beyond the Offposition, and a stop pin 55 prevents movement of the contact armscounterclockwise beyond the position designated D.

As the contact arms sweep through the positions designated A, B, C and Dthey make contact with various fixed contacts. Contacts 61, 62, 63 and64 are successively engaged by the contact arm 52 as it moves throughthe positions designated A, B, C and D and are electrically connected tothe electrode 21 by the lead 34-. When the contact arm 52 is in theposition designated D, it also contacts a fixed contact 65. Thiscontact, along with contacts 66 and 67 which are engageable by thecontact arm 51 when the latter is in the positions designated A and C,are connected by the lead 36 to the electrode 23. Contacts 63, 6% and 70are engageable by the movable contact arm 51 in the positions designatedB, C

and D, and are connected by the lead 35 to the electrode In accordancewith one specific embodiment of the vaporizer illustrated in FIGS. 1-4,the operating characteristics tabulated in FIG. 5 are obtained, theliquid being water. The circuits corresponding to the various switchpositions are described in detail below.

When the contact arms 51 and 52 are in the OE position no power issupplied to any of the electrodes. When the contact arms move to thepositions designated A, voltage is applied across the fixed contacts 61and 66 and hence across the electrodes 21 and 23. Under theseconditions, the electrode 22, which is not energized, acts as a barrierto the flow of ions between the energized electrodes 21 and 23. Thecurrent is thereby substantially smaller than it would be if theintermediate electrode 22 werev not present. The current obtained in thespecific embodiment referred to above is 1 ampere, as tabulated in FIG.5.

When the contact arms are moved to the positions designated B, voltageis applied across the electrodes 21 and 22 through the contacts 62 and68. The current is then 2.5 amperes. When the switch is moved to theposition designated C, the arm 52 connects to the electrode 21 throughthe contact 63, and the arm 51 connects to both of the other electrodes22 and 23 through the contacts 67 and 6%. The current flowing betweenthe electrode 21 and the electrodes 22 and 23 is then 3 amperes.

Finally, when the switch is moved to the position designated D, the arm52 connects to electrodes 21 and 23 through contacts 64- and 65 and thearm 51 connects to the electrode 22 through the contact 70. The currentunder these conditions is 5 amperes, twice that obtained with voltageapplied across two adjacent electrodes as when the switch is in positionB.

It will now be seen that the simple arrangement of three electrodesshown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention affords fourdilferent positive rates of vaporization. Of particular significance isthe arrangement of the electrode 22 in the path of ion flow between theelectrodes 21 and 23. This substantially reduces the current, and hencethe vaporization rate, when voltage is applied across the electrodes 21and 23. Without intervention of the electrode 22, the current betweenthe electrodes 21 and 23 would nearly equal that obtained when thevoltage is applied across adjacent electrodes 21 and 22. The effect ofintervention of the electrode 22 between the electrodes 2i and 23 is, ofcourse, enhanced by the plate-like form of the electrode 22 with theprincipal faces thereof generally perpendicular to the normal line ofion flow between the outer electrodes.

Another feature of the invention concerns the electrode energizationsequence wherein the polarity of one electrode is reversed, as byswitching from position C to position D. Again because of theintervention of a central electrode between two outer electrodes, suchreversal of polarity of one electrode results in a substantiallydifferent current flow and vaporization rate.

Accordingly, a vaporizer constructed in accordance with the presentinvention is capable of a substantial number of vaporization rates whileemploying a fixed voltage and a small number of fixed electrodes havingsubstantially identical areas for immersion in the liquid to bevaporized. By virtue of these characteristics, the vaporizer isinherently sturdy and simple in construction, reliable inoperation, andeconomical to manufacture.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vaporizer, first, second and third substantially identicalelectrodes suspended in fixed, spaced apart relationship for immersionin a liquid to be vaporized, said second electrode being arrangedbetween said first and third electrodes the area for liquid immersion ofsaid second electrode being substantially identical to that of saidfirst and of said third electrodes, and means including a selectorswitch for applying electric voltage to selected ones of said electrodesfor effecting vaporization of said liquid at selected rates, said meansbeing arranged to apply voltage only to said first and third electrodes,said second electrodes serving as a barrier to ion flow wherebyvaporization is at a minimum rate, said means being arranged alternatelyto apply voltage only to said first and second electrodes to effect agreater vaporization rate, and said means being further arrangedalternately to apply voltage between said second electrode and saidfirst and third electrodes to effect a still greater vaporization rate.

2. In a vaporizer, first, second and third substantially identicalelectrodes suspended in fixed, spaced apart relationship for immersionin a liquid to be vaporized, said second electrode being arrangedbetween said first and third electrodes, the area for liquid immersionof said second electrode being substantially identical to that of saidfirst and of said third electrodes, and means including a selectorswitch for applying electric voltage to selected ones of said electrodesfor effecting vaporization of said liquid at selected rates, said meansbeing arranged to apply voltage only to said first and third electrodes,said second electrode serving as a barrier to ion flow wherebyvaporization is at a minimum rate, said means being arranged alternatelyto apply voltage only to said first and second electrodes to effect agreater vaporization rate, said means being further arranged alternatelyto apply voltage between said first electrode and said second and thirdelectrodes to etfect a still greater vaporization rate, and said meansbeing still further arranged alternately to apply voltage between saidsecond References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,944,348 Kelly Jan. 23, 1934 6 Ross Dec. 25, 1934 Shaw et a1. Sept. 3,1940 Jacowitz Aug. 5, 1952 Vassiliev Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTSBelgium June 15, 1956

